• About this Portal
    • Internal Audit and Investigations Group
    • Ethics Office
    • Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Team
    • Health, Safety, Social and Environmental Team
    • Workplace Conduct Team
    • People Planning and Performance Team
    • Legal Group
    • Ombudsman Office for United Nations Funds and Programmes
    • Navigation, Support and Advocacy Team
    • Well-being Support
    • Personnel and Staff Associations
    • General
    • Internal Audit and Investigation Group
    • Ethics Office
    • Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment
    • Workplace Conduct Team
    • People Planning and Performance Team
    • Legal Group
    • Navigation, Support and Advocacy
    • Well-being Support
  • Resources
    • Report alleged misconduct (except retaliation, harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination)
    • Report alleged retaliation
    • Report health, safety, social or environmental concern
    • Report alleged harassment, discrimination, abuse of authority
    • Performance rebuttal request
    • Management Evaluation Request
    • How to Submit a Case
  • About this Portal
    Read more about the aim of the Portal and our ethical values.
    Internal Audit and Investigations Group
    Investigates allegations of misconduct and undertakes audits.
    Ethics Office
    Nurtures a culture of ethics, integrity, and accountability at UNOPS, and helps protect UNOPS personnel against retaliation.
    Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Team
    Coordinates UNOPS efforts on prevention and protection against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
    Health, Safety, Social and Environmental Team
    Develops and implements health, safety, social and environmental best practices in UNOPS' projects and operations.
    Workplace Conduct Team
    Handles allegations of harassment, discrimination, and abuse of authority.
    People Planning and Performance Team
    Responsible for managing the performance appraisal rebuttal process.
    Legal Group
    Handles key formal aspects of UNOPS internal justice system.
    Ombudsman Office for United Nations Funds and Programmes
    Offers dedicated informal dispute resolution services to all UNOPS colleagues.
  • Navigation, Support and Advocacy Team
    Helps reporters navigate and understand UNOPS' internal justice and whistleblower systems.
    Well-being Support
    Advocates for mental health through prevention and referrals to crisis or counselling services.
    Personnel and Staff Associations
    Support personnel by advocating for their working conditions.
  • General
    • Where do I report what? (Guidance on which office might be the right one for you to submit a case to.)
    • How do I report a case or concern?
    • How does confidentiality work?
    Internal Audit and Investigation Group
    • What does IAIG do?
    • How does IAIG maintain confidentiality?
    • What are some examples of evidence that I should provide?
    Ethics Office
    • What is the Ethics Office?
    • What does the Ethics Office do?
    • What does the Ethics Office NOT do?
    Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment
    • What is the role of the PSEAH team at UNOPS?
    • What are UNOPS core principles on PSEAH?
    • What is "sexual exploitation and abuse"?
    Workplace Conduct Team
    • What does the Workplace Conduct Team do?
    • What is the difference between Workplace Conduct Team and Internal Grievances?
    • What does the Workplace Conduct Team NOT do?
    People Planning and Performance Team
    • What is a performance review rebuttal process?
    • Who conducts the rebuttal?
    • What are the requirements for requesting a rebuttal?
    Legal Group
    • Can I get legal advice from the Legal Group about an administrative decision that I would like to contest?
    • Can I take my dispute with UNOPS to a national court for resolution?
    • What are my options for resolving a workplace dispute in UNOPS internal justice system?
    Navigation, Support and Advocacy
    • What is “victim/survivor support”?
    • What is a “victim-centered approach”?
    • What kind of support is offered by the Navigation, Support and Advocacy Team?
    Well-being Support
    • What does UNOPS do to promote the well-being of personnel?
    • How can I access mental health services at UNOPS?
    • What is the process for receiving Well-being Support?
  • Resources
  • Report alleged misconduct (except retaliation, harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination)
    Report alleged retaliation
    Report health, safety, social or environmental concern
    Report alleged harassment, discrimination, abuse of authority
    Performance rebuttal request
    Management Evaluation Request
    How to Submit a Case
  • FR
  • ES

IAIG is responsible for undertaking investigations and audits within UNOPS. The investigations team is the sole entity within UNOPS responsible for conducting investigations into allegations of misconduct, such as mismanagement, fraud, corruption, retaliation on whistleblowers, abuse of authority, sexual harassment, workplace harassment, violation or willful disregard of UNOPS regulations, rules and other administrative instructions that involve UNOPS personnel.

IAIG will not disclose confidential details of the report unless such disclosure is required for the purposes of:

  • Obtaining evidence as part of IAIG’s investigation process
  • Administrative or managerial action 
  • Disciplinary proceedings 
  • Judicial proceedings.

You can provide any evidence that you think is relevant for the report. For example, you can send us chat messages, documents and pictures, and mention the names of potential witnesses who can corroborate your statement.

We try to complete our investigations within three to six months. Sometimes due to workload and case complexity, the process can take longer.

After you submit your report you will be contacted by IAIG, which will start working on the initial review of the case.

If you report an allegation of misconduct, you will be contacted for additional information. The case will be reviewed or investigated, depending on the circumstances. Other involved people may be called to give testimony and other documentation may be reviewed. If the misconduct is substantiated by IAIG, it will be referred to the Legal Group for possible action.

You will be asked to provide a range of information for us to determine the facts. The information you should supply is requested in the reporting forms.

We will provide regular updates on your report, but you are always welcome to contact the relevant unit you submitted your report to for an update. When the case has been concluded, you will be informed of the outcome of the investigation or review. You will not be informed about the specific disciplinary measure that the administration may apply to a perpetrator.

IAIG only investigates allegations that could constitute misconduct. If the case concerns managerial or interpersonal issues, e.g., performance-related issues, an investigation is not carried out.


Once the investigation is complete, if you were the complainant or the person being investigated, you will be notified about its completion and outcome. However, if you are the complainant, due to the sensitive nature of some cases, we may not be able to provide detailed reports. You can find out more general information about misconduct cases in the Executive Director’s annual Disciplinary Report.

A finding of illegal activity or misconduct may carry serious consequences. It may lead to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment, as well as possible legal sanctions.


We strongly advise you to keep the report you submitted to IAIG confidential and not discuss it with anyone else.

Reporting a case formally to IAIG constitutes a “protected activity”. Any UNOPS personnel who reports suspected misconduct to IAIG, or who cooperates with an investigation or audit, has the right to be protected against retaliation. UNOPS personnel facing retaliation in violation of that right may seek protection through the Ethics Office.

Quick Links

Browse through other sections:
Internal Audit and Investigations Group
FAQ
Submit a case
Ethics Office
FAQ
Submit a case
Health, Safety, Social and Environmental Team
Submit a case
Workplace Conduct Team
FAQ
Submit a case
People Planning and Performance Team
FAQ
Submit a case
Legal Group
FAQ
Submit a case

Disclaimer

The summary content provided on this page is issued for informative purposes only and reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication. However, the summary does not amend, replace or override the applicable legal framework set out, inter alia, in the UN Charter, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, the UN Staff Regulations and Rules, relevant administrative issuances and any specific contracting arrangements in place. UNOPS personnel should therefore not rely upon the summary information provided in the portal, as it is not intended to be an authoritative resource. Instead, they should refer to the aforementioned legal framework and their contract with UNOPS for definitive guidance.

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